Determining awards for mobile device users based on renewal events

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for providing incentives to prepaid customers of mobile devices, such as customers of services for mobile devices (e.g., voice, text, and/or data services) provided by a telecommunications carrier, in order to retain these customers, are described. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include a renewal event module that accesses information associated with a renewal event performed by a mobile device customer of a current prepaid service plan, a reward determination module that determines a reward to provide to the mobile device customer in response to the a renewal event performed by the mobile device customer, and a reward provision module that provides the determined reward to the mobile device customer. Further details are described herein.

BACKGROUND

Mobile electronic devices (such as smart phones, personal digitalassistants, computer tablets, and so on) are ubiquitous. Mobile devicesprovide advanced computing capabilities and services to users, such asvoice communications, text and other messaging communications, video andother multimedia communications, streaming services, and so on. Often,users, via their mobile devices, access such services as customers orsubscribers of telecommunications carriers, which providetelecommunications networks within which the users make voice calls,send text messages, send and receive data, and so on.

The telecommunications carriers may provide their customers andsubscribers with various plans of service. For example, the carriers mayoffer and provide contractual subscription plans, where a customer islocked into an ongoing plan for a certain duration of time. As anotherexample, the carriers may offer and provide prepaid, or non-contractual,plans, where a customer determines, during or after each segment of theplan, whether to renew and continue with the plan.

Currently, there are many carriers offering potential and currentcustomers a variety of different varieties of both the contractual andprepaid plans of service. For example, one carrier may offer a low cost,prepaid plan, where a customer receives a basic menu of services (e.g.,unlimited voice and text communications, and 1 gigabyte of data permonth), as well as a higher level, and higher cost, plan, where acustomer receives an enhanced or greater menu of services (e.g.,unlimited voice and text communications, and 4 gigabytes of data permonth), while other carriers offer similar plans and services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present technology will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a suitable computing environmentwithin which to provide mobile device customers with incentives.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a customerincentive system.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for providing anincentive to a mobile device customer.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for determining anincentive to provide to a mobile device customer.

FIGS. 5A to 58 are graphs illustrating relationships between renewalevents and data rewards determined for mobile device customers.

FIGS. 6A to 6B are display diagrams illustrating example user interfacespresented by the customer incentive system.

The drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Similarly, somecomponents and/or operations may be separated into different blocks orcombined into a single block for the purposes of discussion of some ofthe embodiments of the present technology. Moreover, while thetechnology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms,specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawingsand are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not tolimit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On thecontrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technologyas defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods are described herein for providing incentives toprepaid customers of mobile devices, such as customers of services formobile devices (e.g., voice, text, and/or data services) provided by atelecommunications carrier, in order to retain these customers. In someembodiments, the systems and methods include a renewal event module thataccesses information associated with a renewal event performed by amobile device customer of a current prepaid service plan, a rewarddetermination module that determines a reward to provide to the mobiledevice customer in response to the renewal event performed by the mobiledevice customer, and a reward provision module that provides thedetermined reward to the mobile device customer.

For example, the systems and methods may determine a data reward toprovide to a mobile device customer in response to the occurrence of theevent associated with the renewal of a current prepaid service plan,such as a data reward based on an integer quotient of a total number ofrenewals over a number of set qualified renewals, multiplied by apredetermined amount (e.g., X number of gigabytes) of reward data.

Therefore, in some embodiments, the systems and methods determine anamount of data to provide to a mobile device customer of a prepaidservice plan in a future renewal period by determining that the mobiledevice customer has performed a target number of renewals of a prepaidservice plan under which telecommunication services are provided by atelecommunications carrier to a mobile device associated with the mobiledevice customer. Once the target number of renewals is reach, thesystems and methods update or add to a data bucket provided to themobile device customer under the prepaid service plan with a rewardamount of data that is based on the target number of renewals of theprepaid service plan performed by the mobile device customer.

Thus, by providing customers with predetermined, targeted, and/ordynamically changing rewards and other incentives based on renewalevents associated with the customers, a telecommunications carrier mayreduce the churn of customers leaving, or temporarily leaving, prepaidservice plans provided by the carrier. In implementing the systems andmethods described herein, the carrier may convert prepaid service plancustomers, which are often disloyal or disengaged to any given carrier,into loyal or engaged customers, because the carrier provides suchcustomers with rewards for renewing the services provided by thecarrier, among other benefits,

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present technology. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of thepresent technology may be practiced without some of these specificdetails.

Examples of Suitable Computing Environments

As described herein, in some embodiments, the systems and methods enabletelecommunications carriers to provide predetermined, targeted rewardsto customers who renew their prepaid service plans provided by thecarriers. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a suitable computingenvironment 100 within which a telecommunications network may providerenewal incentives and/or rewards to their prepaid service plancustomers/subscribers.

A user (e.g., customer or subscriber) uses his/her mobile device 110(such as a mobile or smart phone, tablet computer, mobile media device,mobile gaming device, vehicle-based computer, wearable computing device,and so on), to access various services (e.g., voice, message, and/ordata services) supported by a telecommunications network 120 that isprovided by a telecommunications (wireless) carrier.

In some embodiments, the mobile device may include network communicationcomponents that enable the mobile device to communicate with remoteservers or other portable electronic devices by transmitting andreceiving wireless signals using a licensed, semi-licensed, orunlicensed spectrum over communications network, such as network 120. Insome cases, the communication network 120 may be comprised of multiplenetworks, even multiple heterogeneous networks, such as one or moreborder networks, voice networks, broadband networks, service providernetworks, Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks, and/or PublicSwitched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), interconnected via gatewaysoperable to facilitate communications between and among the variousnetworks. The communications network 120 may also include third-partycommunications networks such as a Global System for Mobile (GSM) mobilecommunications network, a code/time division multiple access (CDMA/TDMA)mobile communications network, a 3rd or 4th generation (3G/4G) mobilecommunications network (e.g., General Packet Radio Service(GPRS/EGPRS)), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or Long Term Evolution (LTE)network), or other communications network.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other componentsmay be included in the mobile device 110 to enable networkcommunication. For example, the mobile device 110 may be configured tocommunicate over a GSM or newer mobile telecommunications network. As aresult, the mobile device 110 may include a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card that stores an International Mobile Subscriber Identity(IMSI) number that is used to identify the mobile device 110 on the GSMmobile or other communications networks, for example, those employing 3Gand/or 4G wireless protocols. If the mobile device 110 is configured tocommunicate over another communications network, the mobile device 110may include other components that enable it to be identified on theother communications networks.

In some embodiments, the mobile device 110 may include components thatenable them to connect to a communications network, such as network 120,using Generic Access Network (GAN), Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), orLTE-U standards and protocols. For example, the mobile device 110 mayinclude components that support Internet Protocol (IP)-basedcommunication over a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and componentsthat enable communication with the telecommunications network over theIP-based WLAN. Further, while not shown, the mobile device 110 mayinclude capabilities for permitting communications with satellites. Themobile device 110 may include one or more mobile applications thattransfer data or check-in with remote servers and other networkedcomponents and devices.

Among other computing devices, the carrier maintains one or more servers130 and one or more associated databases 160 that perform actions toprovide service plans to customers and store information associated withtheir customers, the service plans they provide, associated accountingand payment systems, and so on.

For example, the server 130 may include a customer data system 140 thatincludes components to create, update, and store information associatedwith new customers of service plans provided by the carrier, currentcustomers of service plans provided by the carrier, previous or churnedcustomers of service plans provided by the carrier, and so on. Thecustomer data system 140 may facilitate the engagement of new customers(e.g., via online intake sites) and may exchange information withcustomers when the customers sign up for service plans, renew serviceplans, disengage from service plans, and so on.

The server 130 also includes a customer incentive system 150 thatperforms various algorithmic processes to provide rewards and otherincentives to customers of certain service plans provided by thecarrier, such as prepaid or non-contractual service plans. In order toidentify customers eligible or otherwise targeted for renewal rewards,the customer incentive system 150 may access and/or receive informationfrom the customer data system 140 and/or the database 160, such asinformation that identifies the customer, information that identifiesthe customer's activities within the network 120, information thattracks historical preferences or attributes assigned to the customer,information that groups the customer into various groups or cohorts ofcustomers of the carrier, and so on. The customer incentive system 150,may utilize various types of information when identifying customers forrewards and/or determine rewards and other incentives to provide tocustomers. As described herein, providing incentives to prepaid serviceplan customers may control or reduce customer churn of prepaid serviceplans, among other things.

FIG. 1 and the discussion herein provide a brief, general description ofa suitable computing environment 100 in which the system can besupported and implemented. Although not required, aspects of thecustomer incentive system 150 are described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as routines executed by ageneral-purpose computer, e.g., mobile device, a server computer, orpersonal computer. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciatethat the system can be practiced with other communications, dataprocessing, or computer system configurations, including: Internetappliances, hand-held devices (including tablet computers and/orpersonal digital assistants (PDAs)), all manner of cellular or mobilephones, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, set-top boxes, network PCs, mini-computers,mainframe computers, and the like. Indeed, the terms “computer,” “host,”and “host computer,” and “mobile device” and “handset” are generallyused interchangeably herein, and refer to any of the above devices andsystems, as well as any data processor.

Aspects of the system can be embodied in a special purpose computingdevice or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, orconstructed to perform one or more of the computer-executableinstructions explained in detail herein. Aspects of the system may alsobe practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks ormodules are performed by remote processing devices, which are linkedthrough a communications network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN),Wide Area Network (WAN), or the Internet. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules may be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

Aspects of the system may be stored or distributed on computer-readablemedia (e.g., physical and/or tangible non-transitory computer-readablestorage media), including magnetically or optically readable computerdiscs, hard-wired or preprogrammed chips (e.g., EEPROM semiconductorchips), nanotechnology memory, or other data storage media. Indeed,computer implemented instructions, data structures, screen displays, andother data under aspects of the system may be distributed over theInternet or over other networks (including wireless networks), on apropagated signal on a propagation medium (e.g., an electromagneticwave(s), a sound wave, etc.) over a period of time, or they may beprovided on any analog or digital network (packet switched, circuitswitched, or other scheme). Those skilled in the relevant art willrecognize that portions of the system reside on a server computer, whilecorresponding portions reside on a client computer such as a mobile orportable device, and thus, while certain hardware platforms aredescribed herein, aspects of the system are equally applicable to nodeson a network. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile device orportable device may represent the server portion, while the server mayrepresent the client portion.

Further details regarding the operation and implementation of thecustomer incentive system 150, will now be described.

Examples of Providing Incentives to Prepaid Customers of Mobile Devices

The customer incentive system 150 includes components that providerewards and/or incentives to mobile device customers of prepaid serviceplans, such as plans provided by telecommunication and/or wirelesscarriers. These prepaid service plans may include non-contractual orother service plans that do not automatically renew from one paymentperiod (e.g. a month) to the next, but instead require the customer toactively renew the service plan to continue as an active customer of thetelecommunications carrier under their previous or current service plan.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of the customerincentive 150. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the customerincentive system 150 may include functional modules that are implementedwith a combination of software (e.g., executable instructions, orcomputer code) and hardware (e.g., at least a memory and processor).Accordingly, as used herein, in some examples a module is aprocessor-implemented module and represents a computing device having aprocessor that is at least temporarily configured and/or programmed byexecutable instructions stored in memory to perform one or more of theparticular functions that are described herein. For example, thecustomer incentive system 150 may include a renewal event module 210, areward determination module 220, and a reward provision module 230.

In some embodiments, the renewal event module 210 is configured and/orprogrammed to access information associated with a renewal eventperformed by a mobile device customer of a current prepaid service plan,such as a current prepaid service plan assigned to the mobile devicecustomer by a telecommunications service provider. For example, arenewal event may be an occurrence where the customer data system 140receives input from a customer to renew a current or previouslyassociated prepaid service plan, such as by receiving customer inputand/or payment information via a mobile application provided by thetelecommunications service provider, by receiving customer input via acall center or other direct interaction with the customer, and so on.

In some embodiments, the reward determination module 220 is configuredand/or programmed to determine a reward to provide to the mobile devicecustomer in response to the a renewal event performed by the mobiledevice customer. The reward determination module 220 may determine therenewal is or satisfies a certain or preselected number set of qualifiedrenewals (e.g., 2 or 3 renewals of a specific service plan, a certainnumber of renewals within a certain time period, and so on). Forexample, the reward determination module 220 may calculate or otherwisedetermine a reward as a value of reward data being equal to an integerquotient of a total number of renewals over the number of set qualifiedrenewals (Q/N), multiplied by a predetermined amount (G) of reward data,or

Data to be awarded=G(Q/N).

Thus, a subscriber's total data reward at any given renewal may be equalto a number of N set of qualified renewals times G data, where a datareward=number of N set of qualified renewals×G (Integer Quotient oftotal number of renewals on eligible plans/N×G). In some cases, aconfigurable limit on the maximum amount of data that can be rewardedmay be applied, which may be configurable per brand and be similar forall plans within a brand.

With respect to the above formula, the reward determination module 220may follow certain parameters or instructions when determining customereligibility for rewards. These instructions may include:

-   -   Subscribers renew “N” number of times on eligible plans;    -   the renewals may be on different plans, but the plans are        eligible for the renewals to be counted towards loyalty rewards;    -   any plans that are eligible are configurable;    -   the number of renewals “N” may be configurable per brand (e.g.,        for a specific service plan and/or level of service plan), but        the same for all plans within a brand;    -   a subscriber may currently be on an eligible plan to receive the        reward;    -   subscribers are rewarded “G” amount of data when they have        renewed “N” times on eligible plans, when they are currently on        an eligible plan, and so on, such that a subscriber's new data        bucket will contain the included plan data plus “G” GBs of        additional reward data; and so on.

In some cases, subscribers may receive a reward at every renewal on aneligible plan until they complete the next N renewal, where they receiveanother G GB of additional data reward.

The following table illustrates various examples of data rewards thatare determined based on numbers of renewal events, for a subscriber on aplan that provides a standard amount of 2 GB of data, and where rewarddata G=1 and N=3:

TABLE 1 Integer Quotient Total data = Total # of of Total # Data Plandata + Renewals of renewals/N Reward reward data 3 1 1 × G = 1 2 + 1 = 34 1 1 × G = 1 2 + 1 = 3 6 2 2 × G = 2 2 + 2 = 4 7 2 2 × G = 2 2 + 2 = 49 3 3 × G = 3 2 + 3 = 5

The reward determination module 220, in some cases, may determinecertain patterns associated with customer renewals (or, predictedrenewals), and determine whether a subsequent renewal is a qualifiedrenewal based on an identification of these patterns within the mobiledevice customer's activities on the network 120 (as stored within thedatabase 160). For example, the reward determination module 220 maydetermine that a reward is to be provided, or a type of reward toprovide, to a customer based on an identified pattern of activitiesperformed by the mobile device customer that are associated with alikely renewal of the current prepaid service plan, based on an analysisof renewal activities over a predetermined time period for all mobiledevice customers of the current prepaid service plan, and so on.

In some embodiments, the reward provision module 230 is configuredand/or programmed to provide the determined reward to the mobile devicecustomer. For example, the reward provision module 230 may adjust and/ormodify a customer's current or subsequent service plan with anadditional data bucket, such as a set amount of additional data (e.g., 1GB, 2 GB, and so on), a certain additional percentage of data (e.g., 25%more data, 10% more data, and so on), an additional amount of data orunlimited use for certain mobile device applications often used by thecustomer (e.g., an extra 1 GB of data for streaming music to a mobiledevice), or other similar service or functionality or rewards (e.g.,unlimited international calling, additional messaging, freeapps/music/content, and so on).

As described herein, in some embodiments, the customer incentive system150 performs various algorithmic processes or methods in order toprovide incentives to users/customers/subscribers of prepaid mobiledevice service plans, in order to reduce the churn ofusers/customers/subscribers from these types of service plans, amongother things. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 300 forproviding an incentive to a mobile device customer. The method 300 maybe performed by the customer incentive system 150 and, accordingly, isdescribed herein merely by way of reference thereto. It will beappreciated that the method 300 may be performed on any suitablehardware.

In operation 310, the customer incentive system 150 receives anindication of an occurrence of an event associated with a renewal of acurrent prepaid service plan. For example, the renewal event module 210may access information associated with an occurrence where the customerdata system 140, e.g., receives input from a customer to renew a currentor previously associated prepaid service plan. This may occur byreceiving customer input and/or payment information via a mobileapplication provided by the telecommunications service provider, byreceiving customer input via a call center or other direct interactionwith the customer, and so on. The input may also occur automatically,e.g., when the subscriber's account fails below a threshold, such asonly 100 MB of data or 15 minutes of voice calling remaining in theprepaid plan,

In some cases, the customer incentive system 150 may provide and/ordisplay information associated with possible rewards duringpredetermined or selected time periods within a currently runningservice period, in order to target mobile device customers with suchinformation during time periods when they are predicted to renew acurrent prepaid service plan. For example, the renewal event module 210may:

-   -   identify a historical time window within which the mobile device        customer previously renewed the current prepaid service plan        (e.g., 5 days from the end of the current plan, 1 day from the        end of the current plan, and so on), and cause a user interface        of the mobile device 110 associated with the mobile device        customer to present information to the mobile device customer        about the data reward in response to a subsequent renewal of the        current prepaid service plan;    -   identify a historical time window within which other mobile        device customers of the current prepaid service plan previously        renewed the current prepaid service plan (e.g., the Monday        before the end of the current plan, after the 15th of any month,        and so on), and cause a user interface of a mobile device        associated with the mobile device customer to present        information to the mobile device customer about the data reward        in response to a subsequent renewal of the current prepaid        service plan;    -   identify a pattern of activities performed by the mobile device        customer that are associated with a likely renewal of the        current prepaid service plan (e.g., after a certain amount of        data has been used within a certain time period), and cause a        user interface of a mobile device associated with the mobile        device customer to present information to the mobile device        customer about the data reward in response to a subsequent        renewal of the current prepaid service plan; and so on.

The customer incentive system 150 may consider other event occurrencesas renewal events. For example, the customer incentive system 150 matdetermine events associated with a customer's behavior (anniversary onplan or using a certain level of service) on a service plan, eventsassociated with holidays or other commonly-shared observances, and soon, as renewal events.

In operation 320, the customer incentive system 150 determines a rewardto provide to the mobile device customer in response to the occurrenceof the event associated with the renewal of the current prepaid serviceplan. For example, the customer incentive system 150 determines a datareward as a value of reward data equal to an integer quotient of a totalnumber of renewals over the number of set qualified renewals (Q/N),multiplied by a predetermined amount (G) of reward data.

In some embodiments, the customer incentive system 150 may generate andmaintain renewal counters for prepaid service plan customers, storingthe counter information in database 160, and utilize the counters whendetermining whether the renewal event is a qualified renewal event. FIG.4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 400 for determining anincentive to provide to a mobile device customer. FIG. 3 is a flowdiagram illustrating a method 300 for providing an incentive to a mobiledevice customer. The method 400 may be performed by the customerincentive system 150 and, accordingly, is described herein merely by wayof reference thereto. It will be appreciated that the method 400 may beperformed on any suitable hardware.

In operation 410, the customer incentive system 150 establishes arenewal counter for the mobile device customer that tracks a number ofrenewals of the current prepaid service plan and the number of renewalsof equivalent prepaid service plans provided by the telecommunicationsservice provider.

In operation 420, the customer incentive system 150 increments therenewal counter for the mobile device customer in response tooccurrences of events associated with the renewals of the currentprepaid service plan and events associated with renewals of equivalentprepaid service plans provided by the telecommunications serviceprovider.

In operation 430, the customer incentive system 150 provides the valueof the renewal counter as the total number of renewals for the datareward, which is then determined by the reward determination module 220.Thus, the customer incentive system 150 may utilize a counter or othersimilar mechanism, in order to track and/or confirm renewal eventsqualified renewals, and so on, for mobile device customers of prepaidservice plans.

The following is an example implementation, illustrated in the graphs ofFIGS. 5A and 5B, of the counter and data rewards provided to asubscriber, given a customer with a GSM activation kit, having thefollowing renewal reward predetermined parameters: Required # ofrenewals for reward, N=3 [Brand Level], Amount of data reward=1 GB[Brand Level], Plan A and B eligible for data reward, Plan C noteligible for data reward, and Max Reward Limit=2.5 GB.

The subscriber activates in paid status on an eligible plan, Plan A. Thecustomer incentive system 150 sets a renewal counter to 0 (If customeractivated on an ineligible plan, Plan C, the counter is left blank). Thesubscriber completes first renewal on Plan A. The system 150 incrementscounter by 1. The subscriber completes 2nd renewal on plan A. The system150 increments counter to 2. The subscriber completes 3rd renewal onPlan A. The system 150 increments counter to 3, and finds thatsubscriber is eligible for reward (see FIG. 5A). The system 150 rewards1 GB of data to the subscriber, and the subscriber's new databucket=Plan A included data+1 GB of additional data, where the rewarddata matches the technology and speed of plan A data.

The subscriber completes 4th renewal on Plan A. The system 150 setscounter to 4, and the subscriber's data bucket=Plan A included databucket+1 GB. Later, the subscriber completes 6th renewal on Plan A, andthe system 150 sets counter to 6. The system 150 finds that subscriberis eligible for another increment of 1 GB. System provisions new databucket=(Plan A included data+1)+1 GB (2 GB of additional data from theplan).

Later, the subscriber completes 9th renewal on plan A, and the system150 sets counter to 9. The subscriber is eligible for another 1 GB ofincrement, but the system 150 determines that total reward 3 GB>MaxReward Limit of 2.5 GB (see FIG. 5B). The system 150 sets the totalreward to the Max Limit 2.5 GB, and the new data bucket=Plan A includeddata+2.5 GB (because the Total data reward z=Max Limit).

As another example, if the subscriber completes the 1st renewal on adifferent, but eligible plan, Plan B, the system 150 increments counterby 1, but if the subscriber completes 1st renewal on a different, butineligible plan (e.g., a lower capacity data plan, Plan C, the system150 does not increment counter, and the counter remains at 0.

As another example, if the subscriber completes 3rd renewal on adifferent, but eligible plan, Plan B, the system 150 increments counterto 3, and finds that subscriber is eligible for reward. The system 150rewards 1 GB of data to the subscriber, and the subscriber's new databucket=Plan B included data+1 GB. However, if the subscriber completes3rd renewal on a different, but ineligible plan, Plan C, the system 150does not increment counter, and the counter stays at 2, where the systemdetermines that the subscriber is not yet eligible for reward.

As described herein, the number of qualified renewals may be based on avariety of predetermined or dynamically determined factors, such as:

-   -   a level and type of the current prepaid service plan;    -   attributes assigned to the mobile device customer (e.g., any        biographical information known about the customer, location of        the mobile device customer, and so on);    -   attributes assigned to a set of customers of which the mobile        device customer has been grouped (e.g., customers on similar        service plans, customers that started or renewed a plan with        similar time period or during certain promotions, and so on);    -   historical renewal activities of the mobile device customer;    -   an analysis of renewal activities over a predetermined time        period for all mobile device customers of the current prepaid        service plan (e.g., patterns associated with previous or current        renewals of a current service plan, such as patterns that        indicate customer churn is decreasing or increasing); and so on.

In addition, the predetermined amount of reward data may be based on avariety of predetermined or dynamically determined factors, such as:

-   -   an analysis of renewal activities over a predetermined time        period for all mobile device customers of the current prepaid        service plan (e.g., patterns associated with previous or current        renewals of a current service plan, such as patterns that        indicate customer churn is decreasing or increasing);    -   a predicted renewal probability for mobile device customers of        the current prepaid service plan;    -   a predicted renewal probability for a specific mobile device        customer of the current prepaid service plan;    -   a predicted churn probability for mobile device customers of the        current prepaid service plan over a certain time period;    -   a predicted churn probability for a specific mobile device        customer of the current prepaid service plan over a certain time        period;    -   a comparison of the current prepaid service plan to prepaid        service plans provided by other telecommunications carriers; and        so on.

Referring back to FIG. 3, in operation 330, the customer incentivesystem 150 provides the determined data reward to the mobile devicecustomer. For example, the reward provision module 230 may adjust and/ormodify a customer's current or subsequent service plan with anadditional data bucket, such as a set amount of additional data (e.g., 1GB, 2 GB, and so on), a certain additional percentage of data (e.g., 25%more data, 50% more data, and so on), an additional amount of data orunlimited use for certain mobile device applications often used by thecustomer (e.g., an extra 1 GB of data for streaming music to a mobiledevice), or other similar rewards (e.g., unlimited internationalcalling, additional messaging, and so on).

In some embodiments, the reward provision module 230 may provide a datareward to a mobile device customer during various different rewardperiods, such as during a renewal period associated with the renewal ofthe current prepaid service plan (e.g., in the subsequent prepaidmonth), during and/or immediately after the occurrence of the eventassociated with the renewal of the current prepaid service plan (e.g.,before the ending of a current prepaid month or end of prepaid amount ofvoice/data), and so on.

As described herein, the customer incentive system 150 may render, orcause to be rendered, various user interfaces associated with therenewal of prepaid service plan and the provision of rewards and otherincentives in response to qualified renewals from mobile devicecustomers.

FIG. 6A depicts an example display 600, where the customer incentivesystem 150, in response to a trigger or other determination, causes themobile device 110 to display information 610 associated with a datareward to be provided to the customer associated with the mobile device110, along with user-selectable display elements (e.g., “renew now” 620,“remind me later” 622), that, when selected by the customer, facilitatethe renewal of a current prepaid service plan, including a renewalreward (e.g., reward of additional data).

As another example, FIG. 6B shows an example display 650, where thecustomer incentive system 150, in response to a trigger or otherdetermination, causes the mobile device 110 to display information 660associated with a reward to be provided to the customer associated withthe mobile device 110 in response to a renewal of a prepaid serviceplan, along with user-selectable display elements (e.g., “reward A” 670,“reward B” 672), that, when selected by the customer, facilitate therenewal of a current prepaid service plan, including a renewal reward(e.g., reward of additional data or international calling), chosen bythe customer. Of course, the customer incentive system 150 may displayother information to mobile device customers not depicted in theFigures.

Thus, in some embodiments, the customer incentive system 150 may performvarious different methods and processes when determining whether toprovide a prepaid customers with a renewal reward, what type of rewardto provide to a customer, what amount of reward to provide to thecustomers, when and how frequent to provide a reward to a customer, andso on.

For example, the customer incentive system 150 may determine an amountof data to provide to a mobile device customer of a prepaid service planin a future renewal period that is based on determining that the mobiledevice customer has performed a target number of renewals of a prepaidservice plan under which telecommunication services are provided by atelecommunications carrier to a customer's mobile device, and updating adata bucket provided to the mobile device customer under the prepaidservice plan with a reward amount of data, based on the target number ofrenewals of the prepaid service plan performed by the mobile devicecustomer, where the target number of renewals may include at least onerenewal of the prepaid service plan after at least one non-renewal ofthe prepaid service plan.

CONCLUSION

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling orconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,”and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer tothis application as a whole and not to any particular portions of thisapplication. Where the context permits, words in the above DetailedDescription using the singular or plural number may also include theplural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to alist of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretationsof the word; any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list,and any combination of the items in the list.

The above Detailed Description of examples of the technology is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific examples for the technology aredescribed above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible within the scope of the technology, as thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processesor blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementationsmay perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in adifferent order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved,added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative orsubcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented ina variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are attimes shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks mayinstead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed atdifferent times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are onlyexamples: alternative implementations may employ differing values orranges.

The teachings of the technology provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various examples described above can be combined to providefurther implementations of the technology. Some alternativeimplementations of the technology may include not only additionalelements to those implementations noted above, but also may includefewer elements.

These and other changes can be made to the technology in light of theabove Detailed Description. While the above description describescertain examples of the technology, and describes the best modecontemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, thetechnology can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may varyconsiderably in its specific implementation, while still beingencompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above,particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to omit the technology to the specific examplesdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe technology encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the technology under theclaims.

To reduce the number of claims, certain aspects of the technology arepresented below in certain claim forms, but the applicant contemplatesthe various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. Forexample, while only one aspect of the technology is recited as acomputer-readable medium claim, other aspects may likewise be embodiedas a computer-readable medium claim, or in other forms, such as beingembodied in a means-plus-function claim. Any claims intended to betreated under 35 U.S.C. §112(f) will begin with the words “means for”,but use of the term “for” in any other context is not intended to invoketreatment under 35 U.S.C. §112(f). Accordingly, the applicant reservesthe right to pursue additional claims after filing this application topursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in acontinuing application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: at least one hardwareserver, coupled to a telecommunications network, wherein the server isconfigured to execute software modules, including: a renewal eventmodule that accesses information associated with a renewal eventperformed by a mobile device customer of a current prepaid service plan,wherein the current prepaid service plan is assigned to the mobiledevice customer by a telecommunications service provider; a rewarddetermination module that determines a reward to provide to the mobiledevice customer in response to the a renewal event performed by themobile device customer; and a reward provision module that provides thedetermined reward to the mobile device customer.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the reward provided to the mobile device customer is a rewardof an additional data bucket to be provided to the mobile device cutomerduring a subsequent renewal period associated with the renewal event. 3.The system of claim 1, wherein the reward provided to the mobile devicecustomer is a data reward to be provided to the mobile device cutomerduring a subsequent renewal period associated with the renewal event,wherein the data reward is determined as a value of reward data equal toan integer quotient of a total number of renewals over the number of setqualified renewals (Q/N), multiplied by a predetermined amount (G) ofreward data.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein a type of reward is basedon an identified pattern of activities performed by the mobile devicecustomer that are associated with a likely renewal of the currentprepaid service plan.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the reward is adata reward, and wherein an amount of data of the data reward is basedon an analysis of renewal activities over a predetermined time periodfor all mobile device customers of the current prepaid service plan. 6.A method for providing an incentive to a mobile device customer, themethod comprising: receiving an indication of an occurrence of an eventassociated with a renewal of a current prepaid service plan, wherein thecurrent prepaid service plan is assigned to a mobile device customer bya telecommunications service provider; determining a data reward toprovide to the mobile device customer in response to the occurrence ofthe event associated with the renewal of the current prepaid serviceplan, wherein the data reward is an amount of additional data to provideto the mobile device customer above a standard amount of data providedto the mobile device customer under the current prepaid service plan,and wherein the data reward is determined as a value equal to an integerquotient of a total number of renewals over a number of qualifiedrenewals (Q/N), multiplied by a predetermined amount (G) of data; andproviding the determined data reward to the mobile device customer. 7.The method of claim 6, further comprising: establishing a renewalcounter for the mobile device customer that tracks a number of renewalsof the current prepaid service plan and the number of renewals ofequivalent prepaid service plans provided by the telecommunicationsservice provider; and incrementing the renewal counter for the mobiledevice customer in response to occurrences of events associated with therenewals of the current prepaid service plan and events associated withrenewals of equivalent prepaid service plans provided by thetelecommunications service provider, wherein a value of the renewalcounter is the total number of renewals of the current prepaid serviceplan.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the number of qualified renewalsis based on a level and type of the current prepaid service plan.
 9. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the number of qualified renewals is based onone or more biorgraphical attributes assigned to the mobile devicecustomer.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the number of qualifiedrenewals is based on attributes assigned to a group of customers ofwhich the mobile device customer has been grouped.
 11. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the number of qualified renewals is based on historicalrenewal activities of the mobile device customer.
 12. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the number of squalified renewals is based on ananalysis of renewal activities over a predetermined time period for allmobile device customers of the current prepaid service plan.
 13. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the predetermined amount of data is based onan analysis of renewal activities over a predetermined time period forall mobile device customers of the current prepaid service plan.
 14. Themethod of claim 6, further comprising: identifying a historical timewindow within which the mobile device customer previously renewed thecurrent prepaid service plan; and causing a user interface of a mobiledevice associated with the mobile device customer to present informationto the mobile device customer about the data reward in response to asubsequent renewal of the current prepaid service plan.
 15. The methodof claim 6, further comprising: identifying a historical time windowwithin which mobile device customers of the current prepaid service planpreviously renewed the current prepaid service plan; and causing a userinterface of a mobile device associated with the mobile device customerto present information to the mobile device customer about the datareward in response to a subsequent renewal of the current prepaidservice plan.
 16. The method of claim 6, further comprising: identifyinga pattern of activities performed by the mobile device customer that areassociated with a likely renewal of the current prepaid service plan;and causing a user interface of a mobile device associated with themobile device customer to present information to the mobile devicecustomer about the data reward in response to a subsequent renewal ofthe current prepaid service plan.
 17. The method of claim 6, whereinproviding the determined data reward to the mobile device customerincludes providing the determined data reward to the mobile devicecustomer in a renewal period associated with the renewal of the currentprepaid service plan.
 18. The method of claim 6, wherein providing thedetermined data reward to the mobile device customer includes providingthe determined data reward to the mobile device customer immediatelyafter the occurrence of the event associated with the renewal of thecurrent prepaid service plan.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium whose contents, when executed by a computing device,cause the computing device to perform operations for determining anamount of data to provide to a mobile device customer of a prepaidservice plan in a future renewal period, the operations comprising:determining that the mobile device customer has performed a targetnumber of renewals of a prepaid service plan under whichtelecommunication services are provided by a telecommunications carrierto a mobile device associated with the mobile device customer; andupdating a data bucket provided to the mobile device customer under theprepaid service plan with a reward amount of data that is based on thetarget number of renewals of the prepaid service plan performed by themobile device customer.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 19, wherein determining that the mobile device customerhas performed a target number of renewals of a prepaid service planincludes determining the mobile device customer has perform at least onerenewal of the prepaid service plan after at least one non-renewal ofthe prepaid service plan.